The Opelousas courier., 1887-07-23

to hurry. And she's so s'prised. But
didn't tell her what you'd brought. I
wonder if she'll like 'em2" added Lottie,
with a little shade Of doubt crossing her
bright face.
Presently q light step crossed the hall,
and looking around l saw standing in
the doorway the slight and elegant fig
ure of a young lady of perhaps twenty.
She was graceful and styiish-looking,
aad had a lovely face, wearing at this
moment an expression of h~csitating in
quiry.
| instantly arose. This must be the
fair young widow, Tiny's mother-but
SO much younger looking and fairer than
I had an idea OF.
Lotto rushed forward and seized hel
hand.
"Mrs. Portcr9" 1 said, doubtfully, ad-
Tancing.
The young lady smiled.
II am Tiny. I suppose you are"
'.It's Aleckln cried Lottic. "And,
Aleck, she's Tiny. Why don't you shake
hands?'
Lottie might well be surprised at my
stupidity. There I stood, stock still,
staring at the young lady, who was re-
garding me curiously.
"Lottie told me that you had sent for
mc-that you wished particularly to see
me" she said, in a ~half-doubtful, apollo
gctic tone.
81 did send for you; but / must con-
fess that ] have been laboring under a
strange mistake. I had an idea that
Tiny was a little girl"
She broke into a laugh, and Lottie
said, with a shocked expression
why, brother Aleck, was that the
reason you brought her a doll and a
Noah's ark"
Ifelt my face suddenly grow hot and
flushed, as the young lady's eyes wan
dercd to the articles in question, lying
conspicuously arrayed upon the table.
Then she looked at me. For an instant
her lips dimpled and quivered in the at
tempt to suppress her mirth, but the
next she broke into an irresistible fit of
laughter, in which I was compelled to
join.
"Lottie, !" I said, drawing her to me,
and speaking with intense gravity,
.why did you not tell me that cousin
Tiny was o grown-up young lady"
why, didn't you know2 Don't you
remember when sister Sophie wrote for
them to conn. it was Tiny that wrote
back, because her mamm had a head
achea And she said they would be here
Tuesday, and then we knew she wasn't a
little girl.n
No, Lotto, your letter to me did not
give that important information. But
you did say that Tiny and you had fine
times in the garden
so we did had, /" interrupted Lottie,
stou.ly. We've put up the hammock,
and Sophie and Tiny read aloud there.
She tells me fairy tiles and makes my
dolls dresses
.Butdii you not tell methat she was
sorry that she had not brought her OWE
doll with herr,
Eyes; because she has q great, big,
lovely French doll, the last one she ever
had and she kept it to give to
some little girl, and she means to
give it to me.n
but you said she loved French bon
bons2', / continued with reloubled seri-
BUSINESS.
Lotto drew forth q pockethandkcr-
chief Of about six inches square, and
applied it to her eyes.
Tt didn't mean to make you think
she was . little girl. She said she loved
bon hons. =
And 50 do, Lottie, and am not
ashamed to confess II, said Tiny, still
laughing, andadraving the child to her
caress ngly-on which the tears instantly
gave place to sunshine.
There's q whole boxful of 'emt r she
said, enthusiastically. Such lovely
onesr'
And when, presently, my mother
4A@E~ 4
and Mrs. Porter N So HE came ii they
fOinl Lottie kneciing II d chair 1t the
table, sorting and admIrIng her share Of
the confectionery, ana Tiny n~sunching
choeolate h~on5ons. and every now and
then breaking into 4 little musical laugh
her eyes wandere / III The Noal1's ark
aaa the doll With which ] had 50 con
saefatsly provided her.
HKNSZ